BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The magical postseason run for the Heidelberg University Men's Basketball team came to an end on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Student Princes never seemed to find a rhythm on offense, falling to host Illinois Wesleyan, 62-51.  

Heidelberg ended the season with a 16-13 record in Mike Summey's first year at the helm. The trip to the NCAA Tournament was just the fifth in program history.

"I love my guys. They fought so hard. We were a little short tonight, on the scoreboard, and maybe in strength," said Summey in the postgame press conference.  "But they didn't give up. Not for one second."

Trey Killens led Heidelberg with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor.  Markell Johnson-Nichols and Jarveil Gainey each had 12 points, with Gainey also grabbing 10 rebounds.  

Teams started slow offensively, but a modest 6-0 run midway through the first half allowed the Titans to build a double-digit lead for the first time with 7:50 left. IWU led by nine at halftime, 26-15, with all 26 of the Titan points coming in the paint.

In the second half, Illinois Wesleyan seemed to have an answer for every 'Berg surge, building as much as a 16-point cushion. HU would eventually get the deficit under 10 with a pair from the line by Johnson-Nichols with 4:29 to play. HU, however, would draw no closer. 

But the loss in the tournament can't diminish the incredible achievement for the Student Princes, who were picked to finish seventh in the OAC Preseason poll.

"There aren't a lot of coaches at Division III, or Division I level, who have come to a program with three returners, built a whole team, and then made a run like this," said Johnson-Nichols. "The past two weeks have been such a special experience."

Five 'Berg players finished the season averaging more than 10 points a night, with Johnson-Nichols (13.9) and Killens (13.8) leading the way. Marcos Vazquez had a team-high 141 assists. Johnson-Nichols and Gainey averaged 5.9 and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Illinois Wesleyan will face John Carroll in the round of 32 on Saturday.